(Vatican Radio) EU member state Lithuania has made a formal protest to Russia over
supplementary border checks amid growing tensions between Moscow and neighboring states
that seek closer ties with the European Union.
The Foreign Ministry said it
summoned the Russian ambassador to Lithuania to demand an end to "discriminatory measures"
against Lithuanians and businesses.
Russia has tough inspections on goods
originating from Lithuania, an ex-Soviet republic with a large trucking and warehousing
industry due to its strategic location between Russia and the European Union.
It
already started subjecting Lithuanian-registered cars to lengthy border checks in
August.
That saw the number of those crossing into Russia dropping by 90
percent. Industry
officials said that under new rules introduced this week
no loaded Lithuanian truck cleared
customs in Russia since Thursday.
These
tensions come after Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius said Moscow's pressure
on Ukraine was "unacceptable", after Russia halted Ukrainian goods.
The
European Commission, the EU's executive, has also expressed outrage that Russia banned
imports of Moldovan wine and spirits, citing quality concerns.
The Commission
is preparing to clinch association agreements with Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine in
November, which are seen as crucial towards eventual EU membership.
However
Russian President Vladimir Putin wants them to join a "Eurasian Union" - a trade bloc
similar
to the European Union, but without commitments to democratic values and open
competition
which are conditions for EU membership.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan
Füle has condemned Moscow's actions.
"Any threat from Russia linked to
the possible signing of agreements with the European Union
are unacceptable,"
he told the European Parliament this week.
"This applies to all forms of pressure
including the possible misuse of energy pricing, artificial trade obstacles such as
imported such as import bans of dubious WTO compatibility and cumbersome customs procedures,"
Füle stressed.
The commissioner also mentioned Russia using "military cooperation
and security guarantees" as well as "the instrumentalisation of protracted conflicts"
to put pressure on former Soviet states.
Despite the stand-off Ukraine,
which was ruled by Moscow for centuries until 1991,
says it wants even closer
ties with the EU.
Besides signing an association agreement, it is also expected
to clinch a deal on free trade.